Christmas 2010

This is the one and only picture that I took this Christmas season. Sad and pathetic. After getting my new camera and everything. Oh well. I guess I was too busy being "in the moment" to actually capture "the moment".

Isn't that a beautiful ham, though? Jim got a Traeger Smoker for Christmas. I have to say that it was the yummiest, juiciest ham that I have ever eaten. We spent Christmas Eve with my family this year. We missed Kelly & Brandon, though. Brandon had a gig on a Cruise Ship.



We had a really great Christmas. The best part was just hanging out with family and friends. To quote Brooklyn, "Christmas isn't about presents, it's about family and cousins." Hopefully, the kids are learning that. They did get quite a lot of presents, though. I wish I had a picture of the tree before we opened everything. We have a tradition with opening presents, and it actually takes us about 2 hours to finish opening everything. We don't let the kids just tear into everything all at once. One of the kids picks a gift for someone, and then we all watch as that person opens their present. Then that person chooses a gift for someone else, and so forth. We have done it like this ever since I can remember, and it just makes Christmas last a little bit longer. I love watching the kids get excited for eachother as we all watch that person open their present. Just a fun little tradition.



Anyway, the kids had a great Christmas. I'm almost embarrassed at how good it was. Santa was really nice this year. We are blessed.



I got another lens to add to my collection. I'm still in shock over my new camera equipment. I'm totally in love with it. My newest lens:

Things are getting back to normal. The decorations are slowly coming down, and we are getting back into the busy-ness of life and school. Laundry is slowly getting caught up. Taylor & Brooklyn have been sick this week. How convenient for them to get sick the week school starts back up. Hmmm. I guess it is pretty hard to fake the stomach flu, though.

I find myself with a lot less stress, and a lot more time having been released from my calling. It's kinda nice to not always have to worry about planning the next activity or the next big event. No more juggling between my calling and Jim's calling. It will be a nice break for our family.

I hope all of your Christmas's were as great as ours. I feel like our family served each other more this season than in the past. I'm really hoping that it carries over. I could tell a difference in the Spirit of our home, and it felt good.